Closure



Nov. 13 1928' CLARK CLOSURE iled Nov. 14, 1927 INVENTOR 14/. (Zark ATTQ R N EY Patented Nov. 13, 1928.

UNITED STATES WABEEAI G. CLARK, OF ESOALON, CALIFORNIA.

CLOSURE.

Application fled November 14, 1927. Serial No. 233 110.

This invention relates to caps or closure means for containers and especially to a device of this nature for use in connection with the flexible or collapsible tubes in which 15 tooth aste, shaving cream, and similar semili ui substances are marketed.

lhe principal object of my invention is to provide a closure device for this purpose which will eliminate the need of the usual screw cap now employed, and which is soconstructed as to be capable of being very easily and quickly opened and closed while maintaining the cap or closure element at all times permanently associated with the container.

My device is therefore more convenient to operate than the ordinary small screw cap, and

there is no chance of the cap dropping and being lost as is frequently the case with the ordina caps.

A rther object of the invention is to construct a device so that it may be manufactured either as an attachment to be detachably applied to a standard container, so that it ma be taken from one container when empty an applied toa full one; or it may be put ontf as a component part of the container itse c A further object of the invention is to produce a simple and inexpensive device and yet one which will be exceedingly effective for the urpose for which it is designed.

These objects I accomplish by means of such structure and relative arrangement of arts as willfully appear by a perusal of the ollowing specification and claims.

In the drawings similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several views:

Fig. 1 is a perspective elevation of my im-;

proved closure device .as applied to a container and in a closed osition.

Fig. 2 is a side view of the closure also in a closed position and with the base partly broken out.

Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the cap in its open position.

Fig. ,4 1s a side elevation of a modified form of the device.

Referring now more particularly to the numerals of reference on the drawings, and

particularly at present to Figs. 1-3, the device I comprises a base band or ring -1 adapted to screw onto or be otherwise fitted over the dischar e nozzle or neck 2 of a container 3. The

56 mem er 1 on one side is provided with outwardly projecting lugs 4 which form supports for the pivot pin 5 of the cap or covermg. The cover member comprises a cap 6, having a gasket G to cooperate with the top of the base 1, and a comb 7 projecting upwardly from the cap and provided with an arcuate slot 8. I

Pivoted onto the member 1 at diametrically opposed points parallel to the pin 5 and projecting upwardly from the base is a combined latch and actuating member comprising arms 9 which diverge from each other above the cap as shown in Fig. 1, and are connected to each other at their upper ends by a cross bar 10 passing through the slot8, which slot is eccentric with the arm pivot, being closer thereto at the base or hinge end of the comb than at the top. The arms and cross bar are all one piece, perferably of spring wire. When the cap is in its closed position the arms are preferably disposed so that they lie at an angle to a vertical plane taken through the pivot of the arms on the opposite side of such plane from the pin 5, so that the cross bar 10 is then beyohd or forwardly of the highest point of the slot 8. The cap, therefore, cannot be opened until the arms are first shifted in the opposite direction or past said highest point. If desired, however, the bottom of the slot may liavelongitudinally spaced notches 8 for engagement with the bar 10. This permits the latch to hold the cap in its closed position in the event that the latch cannot be moved to its foremost position or when the gasket is new and uncompressed. The divergence of the upper portion of the arms enables themto be readily engaged b the fingers of the hand straddling the com so that the actuating member is' easily manipulated. The cross bar 10 normally resses downwardly against the bottom of the slot so as to exert a downward pressure on the cap and hold the same firmly against the base. To enable the cap to evenly seat on the base atall times the pin aperture 5 in the lugs 4 is in the form of a vertical slot'so as to allow of a limited vertical movement of the cap. The cap is held firmly in its closed position by the movement of its actuating member and latch to its forward limit 105 of travel as above stated.

Owing to the eccentric positioning of the slot 8 relative to the arm-pivot, when the arm member is moved away from its latching position, the cross-bar 10 will engage the top of 7 the slot 8, and force the cover to an open position, as will be evident. To hold the cap in a matically move into the recesses when they reach the same. -The cap therefore will not of itself return to a closed position and finger pressure must be exerted on the actuatingarms to overcome the holding of the same so as to move the cap to a closed position.

In Fig. 4 theslotted comb is replaced by a link 12 which projects upwardly from and is pivoted onto the cap 6. The upper bar of the cap actuating member 9 is pivoted directly onto the link. Said actuating member, however, moves in substantially the same manner and to the same position to hold the cap in open or closed positions as in the type first described."

In either type of the device, the base may be screwed or press fitted onto the neck 2 or it may itself form the neck as will be evident.

From the foregoing description it will be readily seen that I have produced such a device as substantially fulfills the objects of the invention, as set forth herein.

While this s ecification sets forth in detail the present an preferred construction of the device, still in practice such deviations from such detail may be resorted to as do not form -a departure from the spirit of the invention,

as defined'by the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and useful and desire to secure by Letters Patent i's:

1. A closure comprising a base member, a

cap for the base pivoted onto'the same at one side thereof, a swinging latch member pivoted onto the base parallelto the cap pivot,

and means on the cap permanently enga ed bythe latch to enable said cap to turn to closed or open positions with the swinging of the latch and normally held in a closed ing over the cap, and a slotted comb on the cap; the member passing through the slot and the latter being curved eccentric with the arm-pivot.

3. A structure as in claim 1 in which the latch, when the cap is closed, lies at a forward angle relative to a vertical plane taken through the arm-pivot.

4. A structure as in claim 2 in which the transverse member of the latch yieldably presses against the bottom of the slot when the cap is in a closed position.

5. A structure as .in claim 1, with means between the latch and base yieldably resisting movement of the latch when the cap has been swung to an open position.

6. A structure as in claim 2, in which the bottom of the slot is provided with transverse notches for engagement with said transverse member.

In testimony whereof I aflix my si autre.

WAREHAM G. CL RK. 

